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Just playing devil’s advocate, but it could be argued that if he gives us 4-6 extra points a game with his goal kicking then he quite regularly gives them back by flailing at someone in defence to let them in for a try. It’s swings and roundabouts

Just playing devilís advocate, but it could be argued that if he gives us 4-6 extra points a game with his goal kicking then he quite regularly gives them back by flailing at someone in defence to let them in for a try. Itís swings and roundabouts

I totally agree mate. Thatís the dilemma with Richardson. He could win you a tight game with his kicking but his defence could also cost you points. Itís a tricky one for Holbrook.

I totally agree mate. That’s the dilemma with Richardson. He could win you a tight game with his kicking but his defence could also cost you points. It’s a tricky one for Holbrook.

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Very true. I’d be staggered if his defence wasn’t part of Holbrook’s thought process. It’s all good competition anyway. Danny I’m sure is made of the right stuff and will be busting a gut to get back in

Kicks today were all difficult, well the ones missed. Especially second half, both off touchline into a swirling wind.

Incidentally, the decision of Brough, Wakefield’s good kicker, to go for 2 from half way I think probably cost them the game. Better option would have been kick to corner, if not scored after 4 plays go for the one pointer. As it was, we got the ball back and game changed

this is the one area we really miss Richardson ( last season he was worth his place for kicking alone0 In a tight game Percival isn't going to make the difference ( the Cas play off game in 2017 being the best example)

Very true. I’d be staggered if his defence wasn’t part of Holbrook’s thought process. It’s all good competition anyway. Danny I’m sure is made of the right stuff and will be busting a gut to get back in

Very true and should be a better player for it

I don't think the decision is as simple as a kicker or defender. So many other factors, training is a key one, who is training harder, showing a better attitude etc. Maybe Fages is edging this ATM, if so the challenge will stand Richardson well

Just playing devil’s advocate, but it could be argued that if he gives us 4-6 extra points a game with his goal kicking then he quite regularly gives them back by flailing at someone in defence to let them in for a try. It’s swings and roundabouts

Also I think the psychological effect of conceding a try has a bigger impact than missing a couple of kicks.

Goal kicking.

People keep mentioning Richardson’s defence. While it is a bit wobbly I think it’s his game management and decision making that costs the team more. Turning over the ball in your own half three or four times a game because of hare-brained last-tackle plays takes its toll on a team far more than the odd missed tackle, IMO.

The tricky/frustrating thing is that in Coote we seem to have someone who makes good decisions but isn’t a particularly good kicker of the ball, while in Richardson we have someone who is a good kicker of the ball but makes consistently bad decisions.

People keep mentioning Richardsonís defence. While it is a bit wobbly I think itís his game management and decision making that costs the team more. Turning over the ball in your own half three or four times a game because of hare-brained last-tackle play takes its toll on a team far more than the odd missed tackle, IMO.

The tricky/frustrating thing is that in Coote we seem to have someone who makes good decisions but isnít a particularly good kicker of the ball, while in Richardson we have someone who is a good kicker of the ball but makes consistently bad decisions.

Best post of the lot. The problem was compounded by the failure to learn from mistakes, its why I used the quote about Richardson being a player who has played his first game 30-odd times.

Best post of the lot. The problem was compounded by the failure to learn from mistakes, its why I used the quote about Richardson being a player who has played his first game 30-odd times.

FWIW, my theory is that DR has had it a bit too easy so far in his pro playing career. He was one of the standout players in an Academy team that was the best in the country. At that level and in that team I suspect he would have been able to get away with high-risk plays and making things up on the fly on the last tackle. Then it just so happened that the time he broke into the first team as a regular was also the time when Barba was on fire and we were making breaks from all over the park. High risk plays were coming off because we had the best player in the comp and our left edge was taking teams apart at will.

So I suspect that DR has never really had to acclimatise to playing the kind of rugby that is normal for the top level ... i.e. rugby where points don't come easy and you have to build pressure over 3, 4 or 5 sets rather than trying come up with miracle plays in every set.

My hope is that the failures of the latter end of last season and this spell out of the team will help him to mature as a player. It would be great if he did, as I think DR with some game smarts would be a very good half back indeed.

FWIW, my theory is that DR has had it a bit too easy so far in his pro playing career. He was one of the standout players in an Academy team that was the best in the country. At that level and in that team I suspect he would have been able to get away with high-risk plays and making things up on the fly on the last tackle. Then it just so happened that the time he broke into the first team as a regular was also the time when Barba was on fire and we were making breaks from all over the park. High risk plays were coming off because we had the best player in the comp and our left edge was taking teams apart at will.

So I suspect that DR has never really had to acclimatise to playing the kind of rugby that is normal for the top level ... i.e. rugby where points don't come easy and you have to build pressure over 3, 4 or 5 sets rather than trying come up with miracle plays in every set.

My hope is that the failures of the latter end of last season and this spell out of the team will help him to mature as a player. It would be great if he did, as I think DR with some game smarts would be a very good half back indeed.

The could prove to be a very astute assessment of him. And in Long I think he has the ideal coach.

People keep mentioning Richardson’s defence. While it is a bit wobbly I think it’s his game management and decision making that costs the team more. Turning over the ball in your own half three or four times a game because of hare-brained last-tackle plays takes its toll on a team far more than the odd missed tackle, IMO.

The tricky/frustrating thing is that in Coote we seem to have someone who makes good decisions but isn’t a particularly good kicker of the ball, while in Richardson we have someone who is a good kicker of the ball but makes consistently bad decisions.

The last tackle was a weakness last year, but though Richardson is the player executing, should it all be down to him. You would expect that we would have some sort of plan as to what we will do in certain situations, and, that senior players would have some input on the field. I know you cannot cover every contingency, and when things don't go to plan the he has to make better decisions, but very often last year he was given the ball on the last because whatever we were trying to do on that tackle failed.

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